LG Display (NYSE:LPL) Reaches New 1-Year High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• LG Display's stock hit a new 52-week high at $4.89, reflecting significant growth as the stock performance improves from a close of $4.08.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on LG Display, with one firm upgrading the stock to a "buy" while the overall consensus remains a "Hold" rating.
• Despite the rise in stock value, LG Display reported a loss per share of ($0.18) for the previous quarter, missing estimates and demonstrating ongoing financial challenges.

LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LPL - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $4.76 and last traded at $4.89, with a volume of 30407 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $4.08.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LPL has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group downgraded LG Display from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of LG Display in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. They issued a "neutral" rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of LG Display from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of LG Display from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold".

LG Display Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $4.42 billion, a PE ratio of -10.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.64. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $3.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.29.

LG Display (NYSE:LPL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 14th. The electronics maker reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.69 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $4.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.85 billion. LG Display had a negative net margin of 2.25% and a negative return on equity of 7.49%. Equities analysts forecast that LG Display Co., Ltd. will post 0.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On LG Display

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of LG Display by 12.0% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,510,470 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $5,166,000 after purchasing an additional 161,409 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its position in LG Display by 323.8% in the second quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 175,947 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $602,000 after purchasing an additional 134,432 shares during the period. Vident Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of LG Display by 46.2% during the 1st quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 392,350 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $1,220,000 after acquiring an additional 123,994 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in LG Display by 498.6% in the first quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 128,662 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 107,167 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ethic Inc. raised its holdings in shares of LG Display by 58.3% in the 2nd quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 259,673 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $904,000 after buying an additional 95,675 shares in the last quarter.

About LG Display

LG Display Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology-based display panels. Its TFT-LCD and OLED technology-based display panels are primarily used in televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors, tablet computers, mobile devices, and automotive displays.